When is it Time to Give Up the Bottle and Introduce the Cup?

Your baby is sitting up and eating solid foods. You do not know if it time to say goodbye to the bottle and introduce the cup. You read books, and most of them tell you different times to introduce the cup. I always heard the correct month to introduce the cup is six months. You will always see signs when your baby is ready to use a cup and start leaving the bottle. The signs could be when you see them holding their bottle during feeding and when your baby tries to reach for your cup.

We have to teach are a baby that using a cup during the daytime is better than a bottle. Using a bottle a lot after six months could cause tooth decay. When your baby goes to sleep with a bottle, the milk could cause to rotten their teeth. Milk, and baby formula contains sugar. If you also give your baby more the bottle than the cup, they will get full and they would not want to eat. Baby needs more protein, and iron to be able to grow strong. If you give them more the bottle than the cup, they are losing out all the proteins and iron. This would cause them to get sick and sometimes have the anemia.

When you start teaching your baby how to use a cup is at six months. Be patient, do not rush it, and try using a plastic cup with a lid. Start by teaching your child to learn to take small sips of water, milk, formula, or juice from a cup. Practice everyday during breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The more practice your baby has the more she or he will leave the bottle alone. Try to give them less bottles when they turn nine or ten months. Try to use the cup daily. Give them water inside the bottle instead of milk during bedtime. If your child cries for the bottle during bedtime, try other things to entertainment him. Try walking around until your child sleeps. Feed your child enough before he or she goes to bed. Try to give them a pacifier at bedtime. This might work instead of a bottle. Give them a toy or favorite blanket to sleep with. Sing a song or play music during bedtime. Try to massage their back during bedtime this might makes them sleepy and forget the bottle. Rock your baby when he or she wakes until they fall back to asleep then put your child back to bed. If you go out during the day, take them a snack and a cup. If you start early to use the cup instead of the bottle, you are helping your child to protect and have healthy teeth.

Whatever it takes, take your baby bottle away as soon as you can. You will be making a good healthy decision, now and all thru the years. Their teeth would be healthy and ready for the next set of teeth.